An important part of owning a car is taking care of its maintenance. A well-functioning radiator is essential to a vehicle’s performance. A good radiator sales shop can locate and repair problems with a car’s radiator. Below are six terms to be familiar with when using a radiator sales business to repair or replace your radiator.

Radiator – Part of a car that cools the engine by passing coolant through the engine. A well-functioning radiator prevents a car from overheating. Broken radiators can be repaired or replaced by mechanics.

Fan – A part of a radiator that forces air through the radiator to cool down the coolant that will be circulated through the engine. If a radiator fan breaks, it will hinder the radiator’s ability to function.

Radiator Pump – Part of an automobile radiator that pumps coolant through the engine of a car.

Radiator Hose – A hose attached to the radiator in a car, that goes around the engine, through which coolant is pumped to absorb heat from the engine. Radiator hoses sometimes leak due to wear and need to be replaced.

Heater Core – A small radiator responsible for heating the passenger area of a vehicle. A heater core forces heat from coolant that has passed through the engine into the cabin of a car.

Engine Coolant – Water or a mixture of water and antifreeze used to cool the engine of a car and prevent it from overheating. Coolant needs to be replaced occasionally. Often, coolant will be refilled as part of an oil change service.

Automotive radiators are sold by auto supply stores and mechanics. They are generally installed by mechanics, although some car owners may attempt the task themselves.
Radiators are generally hard to repair and replacement is often recommended. However, some repairs are possible. Replacing the fan or a leaky hose may be recommended by a mechanic shop. Heater hoses may also be replaced. Fans are the most commonly replaced parts.
Aftermarket radiator sales are important. Modern radiators are more complicated than older ones, with electric parts and sometimes with heaters to physically warm the engine before starting the car or truck. Most modern radiators are made of aluminum to save weight, and sometimes with a very old vehicle, the radiator may be replaced for this reason alone. Companies may also sell other cooling systems, such as oil cooling or auto air conditioning. Used radiators may be available at a considerable discount, but with the usual caveats associated with purchasing used equipment.
Radiators are also used in home heating and air conditioning systems. Traditional radiators use hot water, but oil filled radiators are now common. However, radiators are now less popular than convection heaters. Traditional radiators, for example, need to be bled to release air bubbles. The heat from a radiator is controlled by valves, but can also be reduced by special paint. Some stores, however, sell parts and supplies for home radiator systems. Sales of new radiators are relatively low, however. However, there is a market for repair and reconditioning of older home heating systems.
The market for automotive radiators, however, is far more significant.